EMERGENCY ORDER REGARDING Essential Businesses City of Lawrence

WHEREAS, the Governor has declared a State of Emergency to protect persons from the impacts of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise exponentially in the Commonwealth and in the City of Lawrence. As of March 31, 2020, the Department of Public Health had reported 6,620 cases in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 784 cases in Essex County, and 164 cases in the City of Lawrence.

WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 has significantly affected the life and health of our community, bringing extreme risk of person-to-person transmission throughout the City of Lawrence and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As of March 31, 2020, the Department of Public Health had reported 89 deaths in the Commonwealth of MA; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a contagious, and at times a fatal, respiratory disease, and symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and the disease can spread from person to person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to limit the spread of this highly contagious and potentially deadly virus, the Department of Public Health is urging all residents of the Commonwealth to limit activities outside of the home and to practice social distancing at all times, both inside and outside of the home; and

WHEREAS, it is critical to take additional steps to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to protect the health and welfare of the people of the City of Lawrence and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, the Governor has identified services and functions that are essential to promote the public health and welfare of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that these Essential Businesses follow safe practices including maintaining “social distancing”, practicing proper hand hygiene, and cleaning and sanitizing high-touch surfaces to ensure business continuity, to maintain the strength of response efforts, and for the safety of the employees and their families; and

WHEREAS, maintaining a distance of six (6) feet from others and to avoid coming into contact with or inhaling droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes is one of the best ways to prevent getting COVID-19, as per the Centers for Disease Control; and

WHEREAS, while conducting inspections, public health officials in the City of Lawrence have found that some Essential Businesses are not following social distancing protocols consistent with guidance provided by the Department of Public Health; and

WHEREAS, while conducting case tracing and contact investigations of COVID-19 cases, public health officials have found multiple small clusters of positive COVID-19 cases among employees working for Essential Businesses; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDERED:

1. All businesses and other organizations herein referred to as an “Essential Business” that are permitted to continue to operate during the State of Emergency, shall designate a supervisor or manager as a Health and Safety Officer to maintain and manage proper safety protocol. This order excludes first responders and hospitals that have infectious control policies in place.

2. The Health and Safety Officer shall review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) guidance document “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 and the guidance document published by the Lawrence Board of Health “Essential Employee Guidance COVID-19 response”.

3. Essential Businesses shall register the business with the City of Lawrence and declare the specific type of essential business allowed by the Governors order.

4. Essential Businesses shall implement a “zero tolerance” work policy mandating that employees stay home if they are show signs and symptoms of COVID-19. This requirement is not intended to restrict employees from working from home. Employees should consult their primary care doctor to assist in determining whether working from home is appropriate.

5. Essential Businesses shall purposefully identify essential business functions, essential jobs or roles, and critical elements required to maintain business operations. Employers shall mandate that employees who are not needed for essential purposes shall not report to work. Employees in this category may work from home.

6. Essential Businesses shall implement a work policy mandating that employees self-certify to their supervisor at the start of each shift that (1) the employee has no signs of fever, (2) the employee has no measured temperature above 100.3 degrees, and (3) the employee has no cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing.

7. Essential Businesses shall implement a work policy mandating that employees self-certify to their supervisor at the start of each shift that (1) the employee has not been ordered to self-isolate by a doctor, health care provider, or a local health official, (2) the employee has not been ordered to quarantine by a doctor, health care provider, or a local health official, and (3) neither the employee nor household members have been tested positive for COVID-19 or clinically diagnosed as having COVID-19.

8. Essential Businesses shall implement a work policy mandating that employees self-certify to their supervisor at the start of each shift that the employee has not had “close contact” or exposure to an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. “Close contact” may include but is not limited to situations where an employee is within six (6) feet of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for approximately 20 minutes, where an employee is caring for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, or where an employee is in direct contact with secretions or respiratory droplets of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 by cough, sneezing, sharing utensils, or other means, in environments where the exposed employee was not wearing proper PPE (personal protective equipment).

9. Essential Businesses shall direct their employees exhibiting symptoms, or employees unable to self-certify to leave the work, contact their primary care doctor, and return to work only after being cleared by a medical professional.

10. Essential Businesses shall share and post in all work areas notice that employees shall (1) stay home if sick, (2) wash and sanitize hands often, and (3) maintain social distancing of 6 feet.

11. Essential Businesses shall stay informed by reviewing updates from local and state officials for guidance on appropriate practices and quickly evolving conditions that may influence business practices and community decisions and strategies.

This Emergency Order shall remain in effect until notice is given, pursuant to the Local Board of Health’s judgement that the Public Health Emergency no longer exists.

So ordered on behalf of the Local Board of Health this 1st day of April, 2020:

Essential Employee Guidance COVID-19 Response

You are healthy.

Stay home if you do not have an essential role.

Stay home if you are able to work from home, otherwise you may report to work. You should discuss this option with your employer.

Monitor your health.

Take your temperature before every shift.

Do not come to work if your temperature is above 100.3 degrees.

Do not come to work if you are symptomatic including having a fever, cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing.

Your primary care doctor recommends that you stay home or quarantine because you are vulnerable to the COVID – 19 virus because of age or pre-existing health condition.

Stay home.

Do not report to work until you have been cleared by your primary care doctor or health care provider.

If you are feeling well, you may work from home (if able). You should discuss these options with your primary care doctor and your employer.

You are 65 years of age or older or have a pre-existing health condition.

Consult your primary care doctor or health care provider for guidance as to whether you should stay home.

Consider taking time-off.

Stay home if you are not an essential employee.

Stay home if you are able to work from home, otherwise you may report to work. You should discuss this option with your employer.

Monitor your health.

Take your temperature before every shift.

Do not come to work if your temperature is above 100.3 degrees.

Do not come to work if you are symptomatic including having a fever, cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing.

You have signs and symptoms but have not tested positive for COVID–19.

If you are feeling well, you may work from home (if able). You should discuss these options with your primary care doctor and your employer.

You are in quarantine, in isolation, or have been sent home but have no symptoms of COVID–19.

Stay home.

Do not report to work until you have been cleared by your primary care doctor or health care provider.

If you are feeling well, you may work from home (if able). You should discuss these options with your primary care doctor and your employer.

You are asymptomatic but you have had “close contact” with someone who tested positive for COVID–19.

“Close contact” may include but is not limited to being within six (6) feet of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for approximately 20 minutes, caring for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, or being in direct contact with secretions or respiratory droplets of a person who has tested positive for COVID- 19 by cough, sneezing, sharing utensils, or other means, in environments where the exposed person was not wearing proper PPE (personal protective equipment).

Stay home.

Quarantine for 14 days or longer as directed by your primary care doctor or health care provider.

Do not report to work until you have been cleared by your primary care doctor or health care provider.

If you are feeling well, you may work from home (if able). You should discuss these options with your primary care doctor and your employer.

You are asymptomatic but you have had “close contact” with someone who has not tested positive for COVID – 19 but is showing signs and symptoms.

“Close contact” may include but is not limited to being within six (6) feet of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for approximately 20 minutes, caring for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, or being in direct contact with secretions or respiratory droplets of a person who has tested positive for COVID- 19 by cough, sneezing, sharing utensils, or other means, in environments where the exposed person was not wearing proper PPE (personal protective equipment).

Consider taking time-off.

Stay home if you are not an essential employee.

Stay home if you are able to work from home, otherwise you may report to work. You should discuss this option with your employer.

Monitor your health.

Take your temperature before every shift.

Do not come to work if your temperature is above 100.3 degrees.

Do not come to work if you are symptomatic including having a fever, cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing.

Practice social distancing as much as reasonably possible. Use different touch surfaces, arrange separate sleeping areas and wash your hands frequently.

If the person becomes Positive for Covid-19 after testing, you must quarantine at home for 14 days and/or until cleared by MD.

A member of your family or household is asymptomatic but in quarantine because he/she had “close contact” with someone who has tested positive for COVID–19.

Consider taking time-off.

Stay home if you are not an essential employee.

Stay home if you are able to work from home, otherwise you may report to work. You should discuss this option with your employer.

Monitor your health.

Take your temperature before every shift.

Do not come to work if your temperature is above 100.3 degrees.

Do not come to work if you are symptomatic including having a fever, cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing.

Practice social distancing as much as reasonably possible. Use different touch surfaces, arrange separate sleeping areas and wash your hands frequently.

If your family or household member becomes Positive for Covid-19 after testing, you must quarantine at home for 14 days and/or until cleared by MD.

A member of your family or household is symptomatic but has not tested positive for COVID–19.

Consider taking time-off.

Stay home if you are not an essential employee.

Stay home if you are able to work from home, otherwise you may report to work. You should discuss this option with your employer.

Monitor your health.

Take your temperature before every shift.

Do not come to work if your temperature is above 100.3 degrees.

Do not come to work if you are symptomatic including having a fever, cough, sore throat, or trouble breathing.

Practice social distancing as much as reasonably possible. Use different touch surfaces, arrange separate sleeping areas and wash your hands frequently.

If your family member becomes Positive for Covid-19 after testing, you must quarantine at home for 14 days and/or until cleared by MD.

A member of your family or household has tested positive for COVID–19.

Stay home.

Quarantine for 14 days or longer as directed by your primary care doctor or health care provider.

Do not report to work until you have been cleared by your primary care doctor or health care provider.

Attempt to maintain social distancing as much as possible from your family members or household.

If you are feeling well, you may work from home (if able). You should discuss these options with your primary care doctor and your employer.

This guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. The COVID-19 response is an evolving, rapidly changing situation. Please regularly review online resources and guidance documents published reliable sources such as mass.gov, cornovirus.gov, and cityoflawrence.com.